Facial And Leg Thread Veins Treatment
What are thread veins?
Thread veins or telangiectasias are small, superficial, red, purple or blue veins which can appear anywhere on the body but most frequently on the face or legs. They can be 1- 3mm in diameter and occur when the vein dilates to become large enough to be visible through the skin. Thus, they are generally more of a problem for fairer skin types. They are often classified according to their appearance as linear, branching or spider telangiectasia. Medically they are not serious but cosmetically they can be distressing to many of us.
What are the causes?
The effects of age, solar damage to the skin, hereditary factors, fair skin types and also, in the case of legs veins, obesity, pregnancy and prolonged standing. Excess alcohol, smoking and poor diet are further contributory factors.
How can they be treated?
Until the introduction of IPL and laser treatments, there was little that could be offered to safely and effectively remove these aesthetically unpleasant marks.
Facial Veins: We normally use multi-wave length IPL in higher energy pulses to reduce facial thread veins However, sometimes we will use the long wave length Nd:YAG laser to treat superficial and deeper red, purple or blue veins including certain types of haemangiomas or birth mark.
Leg Veins: Leg veins can be divided into 3 types, varicose, reticular and thread veins. At Medi-Laser Aesthetics we can successfully clear reticular and thread veins using a combination of IPL and Nd:YAG laser but varicose veins are best treated surgically. However, no single treatment is effective in all leg veins. Thus, even after successful varicose vein surgery you may need laser treatments to eradicate the more visible and pigmented thread/reticular veins.
Can anyone be treated?
Yes, most patients are suitable but the fairer the skin, the easier and more effective the treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
This depends upon many factors such as your skin type/colour and the severity of your problem but we frequently see excellent results for facial thread veins after a course of only 3 treatments at monthly intervals.
Are there any side-effects?
After treatment there may be some transient redness or swelling but this usually resolves within a few hours.
Some patients report minor brownish changes in the skin due to the release of a pigment called Haemosiderin from red blood cells. However, this again usually fades with time.
Very occasionally there is whitening of the skin around the treated area and sometimes there can be minor bruising lasting 2-3 weeks.
Are there any alternatives?
If you are not yet ready to consider definitive laser treatments, we can help in other ways such as mineral make-up to safely and effectively conceal the visible effects of the underlying thread veins.
What is the cost?
The cost varies depending upon what is needed but we offer a free, no obligation initial consultation to provide a more detailed estimate of what might reasonably be required in your particular case. However, as a guide to IPL therapy for thread veins:
| Treatment | Price per 1 session | Price for a course of 3 |
| Single Lesion | £70 | £180 |
| Full Cheeks | £165 | £420 |
| Full Face | £200 | £500 |
Try combining this with microdermabrasion prior to IPL and Cosmedix post-treatment skin care for maximum results.
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